What causes back pain?
Back pain can develop due to overuse of the muscles that support your spine. If you’re physically active in sports or a manual labor job, you may experience occasional back pain due to muscle fatigue and strains. You can also develop acute back pain if you don’t get enough exercise and sit for extended periods of time.
Chronic back pain, which is pain that lasts for six months or more, is often the result of underlying degenerative conditions or age-related changes in your cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) spine.
Some of the most common causes of back pain the Coastal Pain Medicine team treats include:
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
- Whiplash
- Scoliosis
- Fibromyalgia
- Spinal stenosis
- Degenerative disc disease
You may also experience chronic back pain following a stroke or because of conditions like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
When should I seek treatment for back pain?
If you have back pain that lasts longer than six months or pain that worsens over time even with home treatment, you should schedule a diagnostic evaluation with the team at Coastal Pain Medicine.
You should also schedule an evaluation right away if you experience:
- Changes in bowel habits
- Difficulty controlling urine
- Persistent numbness in your back
- Severe weakness in your legs
Receiving an accurate diagnosis as early as possible can prevent additional injuries to your back and increase your chances of a full recovery.
How is back pain treated?
To help you find relief from chronic back pain and increase your spinal mobility, Dr. Brennan and the Coastal Pain Medicine team offer several in-office procedures.
You may benefit from minimally invasive treatments like:
Epidural steroid injections
Epidural steroid injections deliver anesthetic and steroid medications into the epidural space of your spine to reduce pain and inflammation. To ensure the proper positioning of the medications, Dr. Brennan uses fluoroscopy, a real-time X-ray guidance technology.
Radiofrequency (RF) lesioning
RF lesioning uses a needle to deliver low-current electrical energy into spinal nerves to create a lesion. The lesion interferes with pain signals that travel from your spine to your brain to provide you with long-lasting pain relief.
Spinal cord stimulation
Spinal cord stimulation involves the implantation of wire leads into the spinal canal. These leads connect to a small generator, which produces electrical impulses that interfere with pain signals traveling to your brain. You control the stimulator with an external remote to manage your pain as needed.
Regenerative medicine
Regenerative medicine harnesses the power of your body’s own ability to heal. Dr. Brennan uses stem cells and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to stimulate the production of new, healthy cells to replace damaged ones.
Coastal Pain Medicine also offers holistic therapies like acupuncture to promote better blood circulation and natural pain relief.
To find out which back pain treatment is right for you, call Coastal Pain Medicine or request a consultation through the online booking feature today.
